Hey guys.

I'm a 2007 kid. My very good friend is anxiously waiting for Acceptance April, so I've been trying to check in for her...this site was invaluable during the last six or seven months before I moved to film school, so I figured I'll try to give back if I can.

Interviews: Treat them like conversations. Don't act like your life hangs on them...even though it feels that way. You will have to pay your own way. Take pride in getting to the interview stage, as that's almost as hard to do as getting accepted. Dress up...but let your personality shine through.

Financial Aid: Apply NOW.

Housing: Good luck...graduate housing is a commodity in LA...I only know two people at USC who live in student housing, and they found out about five minutes before they got here. Just get an apartment. Conquest is good, but shady. Calstudenthousing is equally shady. You're gonna need a car, and campus is teeming with undergraduates, so there's little reason to live on campus if you don't want to. Few of your classmates will...at least that's how it is this year.

The experience of getting into film school was such a thrill ride. Going to film school is a pressure cooker. It's effing hard. It's fun. You suffer from self-doubt, but then you snap out of it.

I got into every school I applied to (USC, UCLA, AFI, all for Screenwriting), though my first choice changed three times. I definitely made the right choice with USC, though, and I don't think I could've said that if I'd gone anywhere else.


By the way, the forum is your friend. I made arrangements to physically meet just about all of the people that I "met" on this site, and we remain close.


Best of luck everyone!

I'll do my best to help if I can. Just try not to stress.


The way I distracted myself from the "My Entire Future Hangs In The Balance" obsessive fear laden insomnia tension was by making obscene back up plans for the next year or so if I didn't get into film school.

I decided I was either going to teach English in Asia, or move to Toronto...and let myself get wrapped up in making fake plans that could become real if necessary.

Just telling you what worked for me...

I applied to UCLA Screenwriting and that is it.

Still haven't heard anything except that they received my application. That was a weird email. They didn't bcc us, they just sent a general email to like 20 applicants so I have my competition's contact info - watch out!

In the meantime just trying to take Jayimess' advice and pretend like I will be okay if I don't get in.

Good luck everyone - keep us posted!

Yeah, I'm just biding my time at the moment, wavering between confident I'll get in where I'd like to go and fearful that I'll be stuck here doing next to nothing for another year yet.

Meanwhile, I've got a pretty decent (good people, not so good pay) internship/video editing position to hold me down.

I've applied to the screenwriting/dramatic writing programs at AFI, Northwestern, NYU, Columbia, Hollins, UNM, and New Mexico Film Makers Intensive.

So far I've only been scheduled for an interview with Northwestern and that is next week. I think it's my top choice though AFI, Columbia, and NYU would be extremely hard to pass up.

I've applied to NYU, AFI, Columbia, Northwestern, Hollins U., UNM, and New Mexico Films Intensive. I've applied to screenwriting/dramatic writing programs. I've only heard from Northwestern (have an interview next week) and as of now it's my top choice though it'd be hard to pass up NYU, AFI, or Columbia.

Greetings, gang.

I'm new to this forum and am so happy to have found a message board where I can connect with other film school applicants.

This is my third consecutive year applying to graduate school. In '06 and '07, I applied to only UCLA and was rejected both times. This year, I have applied to seven programs. They are:

UCLA Film/TV
AFI Directing
USC Critical Studies
NYU Tisch Film/TV
NYU Tisch Film Studies
Columbia Film MFA
Columbia Film Studies MA

So far, I have not seen or heard a response from any school, save for a yellow post card sent to me from UCLA shortly before Christmas informing me that all required materials have been received and that my application is currently being reviewed.

Here's my first question. Does UCLA send out their interview invitations first or their rejection notices first? Here's why I ask. Two years ago, I received a rejection e-mail from UCLA in late March. Last year, I received that message in late February. I'd like to think that I got closer to being interviewed last year.

At this point, my sixth sense tells me that my Columbia film studies application is the strongest of the seven I sent. That's not to say that I wouldn't accept in invitation from any of the other six programs, mind you. That's just what my gut tells me.

If anyone on here has any experience applying to any of the aforementioned programs, feel free to drop me a line.

Best of luck to all who applied,

JG

Oh no! The first inkling of impending rejection news. My heart just raced a bit there.

Anyway, I've heard nothing (still) from anyone save for confirmation of receiving my application from most schools.

BU sent me a thanks-for-applying note that said decisions would be mailed out by late March. Anyone else apply to BU?

Hey I applied to BU, NYU, Columbia, Columbia College Chicago, Temple, UCLA, and Chapman

Hey Bartleby,

I think you mentioned that USC is your top choice. Did you apply for Production?

I'm trying to get a sense of how many people on this forum are in my boat (top choice = USC Production). It looks like quite a few people on this forum didn't even apply to USC.

Yeah, I applied for production. And yes, I think USC is definitely my top choice, but it will all boil down to finding out where I actually get in and where I can actually afford. If I get into USC and some other top notch programs it will come down to my visits to them and how my finances will work out.

I really like Chapman at the moment, not only for their ever-growing reputation but because they finance all of your films.

Hey folks,

I received an e-mail from NYU Tisch this morning informing me that they will not be able to offer me a place among the incoming graduate film class this fall. However, the admissions staff did think enough of my application to advance it to the second round. (This consideration was only extended to one-third of all the prospective students who applied, so that news came as a pat on the back.) What this means is that I am now eligible for an interview at the NYU Tisch Asia campus in Singapore.

After weighing my options carefully, I have decided to pass on the NYU Tisch Asia offer. The drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Besides, I still have six applications on which I am awaiting a response...and one of them went to NYU. (read: Film Studies M.A.)

Has anyone on this board received any contact from AFI, UCLA, USC, or Columbia? If so, let me know.

Take care,

JG

I called USC today and asked about the MFA Production application timeline. The woman I spoke with told me that applicants will hear back in mid-April and that there is no interview (not even an informal phone interview).

I just got an email from FSU informing me that I've been selected for an interview.

This has now wrecked my calm day.

Congrats, Bartleby!!!

I'm so jealous -- I just want to hear SOMETHING! (I only applied to UCLA).

dharmagirl, did you apply to the production program?

No, screenwriting. You?


I was pretty calm about the whole thing until I realized we should hear about interviews in a week! Now I'm freaking a little.

i think bartleby and i already exchanged this info in another trend. But i got an email for an interview from fsu too. so far no word from ucla, usc, nyu, or chapman. i did get a call from afi, haven't interviewed yet....but honestly everyday is like a mini heart attack with or without any news from a school.

I applied to production... I don't think I'm going to hear for quite a while.

redpo,

Which program with AFI are you interviewing with?